Plantable reinforced earth wall and its block and construction method of reinforced earth wall

ABSTRACT

A large-sized block having a large width, which rapidly constructs a plantable reinforced earth wall using equipment to eliminate worker&#39;s physical burden, has a soil filling portion ( 60 ) formed therein and provided with recession planes ( 12, 12 ′) formed at both sides of the front surface ( 10 ) of the block so as to partially expose the soil filling portion ( 60 ) to the front surface of the earth wall so that plants can be grown in the front surface of the vertically constructed earth wall (W), and is not cracked due to the horizontal displacement of the block when the ground is unevenly settled, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed using the blocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall by vertically stacking crosswise block units (U) obtained by vertically stacking a plurality of the blocks, so that the lower portion of the earth wall is not easily damaged by shearing force applied due to load of the blocks.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a block for constructing a plantablereinforced earth wall, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructedusing the blocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall using theblocks, and more particularly to a large-sized block having a largewidth, which rapidly constructs a plantable reinforced earth wall usingequipment to eliminate worker's physical burden, has a soil fillingportion vertically formed therethrough and partially exposed to thefront surface of the earth wall to allow plants to be grown in the frontsurface of the vertically constructed earth wall, a plantable reinforcedearth wall constructed using the blocks, and a method for constructingthe earth wall using the blocks, which prevents the lower portion of theearth wall from being damaged by shearing force applied due to load ofthe blocks.

BACKGROUND ART

There are disclosed various techniques for constructing ablock-assembled reinforced earth wall, a panel-assembled reinforcedearth wall, and a block and panel-assembled reinforced earth wall.

The conventional block-assembled reinforced earth wall is constructed bycausing a worker to directly carry small-sized blocks, therebyincreasing the worker's fatigue and delaying construction. When theearth wall must be constructed in a short period of time, large humanpower is required, thereby increasing personal expenditure taken toconstruct the earth wall and generating problems caused by labormobilization.

Since the conventional panel-assembled reinforced earth wall isconstructed using equipment, the panel-assembled reinforced earth wallis advantageous in that the worker's fatigue is minimal and theconstruction of the panel-assembled reinforced earth wall is rapidlyperformed, but is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to manufactureand handle the panel due to various kinds (types) of the panel and it isimpossible to grow vegetation in the panel due to the structure of thepanel. Accordingly, the panel-assembled reinforced earth wall is notharmonized with surrounding environment.

In order to solve the above disadvantages of the conventionalblock-assembled and panel-assembled reinforced earth walls and to usethe respective advantages of each of the earth walls, the presentapplicant has filed “a reinforced earth wall constructed by verticallystacking relatively large-sized blocks, a block for constructing thereinforced earth wall, and a method for constructing the reinforcedearth wall using blocks” in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Thepresent invention is an improvement of the above earlier invention, andproposes a method for constructing a reinforced earth wall using blocks,which prevents the blocks from being broken due to shearing forceapplied by the load of the blocks on the lower portion of the earthwall, a reinforced earth wall constructed by the method, and a blockused in the construction of the earth wall and structured such thatvegetation can grow in the block.

DISCLOSURE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide alarge-sized block having a large width, which rapidly constructs aplantable reinforced earth wall using equipment to eliminate worker'sphysical burden, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed using theblocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall using the blocks.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a block, inwhich plants are grown so that an earth wall vertically constructedusing the blocks is harmonized with surrounding environment, a plantablereinforced earth wall constructed using the blocks, and a method forconstructing the earth wall using the blocks.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a block, whichhas resistance to the breakage of horn-shaped portions and a centralportion of the block due to the horizontal displacement generated whenthe ground is unevenly settled, a plantable reinforced earth wallconstructed using the blocks, and a method for constructing the earthwall using the blocks.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a block, whichprevents the lower portion of an earth wall constructed using the blocksfrom being damaged by shearing force applied due to load of the blocks,a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed using the blocks, and amethod for constructing the earth wall using the blocks.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a block, whichimprove the connection between upper and lower blocks and between blocksand reinforcing members to prevent the movement and the protrusion ofthe blocks, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed using theblocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall using the blocks.

It is a sixth object of the present invention to provide a block, inwhich at least two individual blocks are vertically stacked and unified(integrated) into a large-sized block unit, and a plurality of the blockunits are vertically stacked crosswise to construct an earth wall havingvarious patterns, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed usingthe blocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall using theblocks.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a block forconstructing a plantable reinforced earth wall comprising: a frontsurface forming the surface of the earth wall and a rear surfacecontacting reinforced earth; left and right side surfaces respectivelyprovided with uneven portions for connecting the block to neighboringblocks; an upper surface provided with reinforcing member insertiongrooves, into which reinforcing members or anchors for connecting thereinforcing members are inserted; a lower surface corresponding to theupper surface; and connection pin insertion holes formed through leftand right sides of the upper and lower surfaces for receiving connectionpins to connect the upper and lower blocks, wherein a soil fillingportion is formed through the upper and lower surfaces of the block, andrecession planes for forwardly exposing the soil filling portion whenthe blocks are vertically stacked crosswise are formed at both sides ofthe front surface of the block.

Preferably, through holes may be formed through both sides of the blockoutside the soil filling portion to decrease the weight of the block,and the connection pin insertion holes may have an extended shape havinga long radius in the lateral direction of the block so that the blocksare connected by the connection pins even when the earth wallconstructed using the blocks is rectilinear or curved.

When the soil filling portion is filled with-soil, the soil fillingportion serves as a space forming a base for allowing plants to be growntherein, and when the soil filling portion is not filled with soil, thesoil filling portion serves as a space for allowing birds or fishes toinhabit therein according to the installation place of the earth wall.

Preferably, external force absorption grooves, the cross sections ofwhich have the shape of a right-angled triangle, may be formed in bothsides of the soil filling portion for receiving corners of the upperblock so as to prevent shearing force, applied from the upper block,from being concentrated on the central portion of the block, which is acrossing portion between the blocks when the blocks are verticallystacked crosswise to form the earth wall and then the ground under theearth wall is unevenly settled.

More preferably, additional external force absorption grooves may beformed at front regions of left and right corners of the upper surfaceso as to prevent the upper corners (horn-shaped portions) of the lowerblock from being damaged from the contact between both sides of theupper portion of the lower block and the lower surface of the upperblock due to the uneven settlement of the ground after a curved earthwall is constructed, and the shearing force from being concentrated onthe middle portions of the lower blocks.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed by the blocks.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for constructing a plantable reinforced earth wallcomprising: vertically stacking at least two unit blocks and unifyingthe unit blocks connection pins to produce block units; building thefirst unified block units on a concrete base; spreading a reinforcedearth in the rear of the first built block units, and placingreinforcing members on the reinforced earth such that the reinforcingmembers are connected to the first built block units and hardening thereinforced earth; filling soil filling portions of the first built blockunits with soil and planting herbaceous plants in the soil; verticallystacking at least two unit blocks and unifying the unit blocks usingconnection pins to produce block units; stacking the second unifiedblock units on the first built block units such that the stacked upperand lower block units cross each other; spreading a reinforced earth inthe rear of the second built block units, and placing reinforcingmembers on the reinforced earth such that the reinforcing members areconnected to the second built block units and hardening the reinforcedearth; and filling soil filling portions of the second built block unitswith soil and planting herbaceous plants in the soil.

Preferably, the height of the upper block units may be lower than theheight of the lower block units, thereby preventing the lower portion ofthe earth wall from being broken by shearing force.

Further, preferably, the method may further comprise continuouslyinstalling fences or skylight windows on the upper portion of the earthwall.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The present invention provides a large-sized block having a large width,which rapidly constructs a plantable reinforced earth wall usingequipment to eliminate worker's physical burden, a plantable reinforcedearth wall constructed using the blocks, and a method for constructingthe earth wall using the blocks. When the blocks are vertically stackedcrosswise through soil filling portions formed in the blocks andrecession planes formed at both sides of the front surfaces of theblocks, the soil filling portions are exposed to the front surface ofthe earth wall. In the case that plants are grown in soil filling theexposed soil filling portions, the front surface of the verticallyconstructed earth wall is afforested. As occasion demands, the soilfilling portions are not filled with soil. In the construction method ofthe present invention, block units obtained by vertically stacking aplurality of blocks are vertically stacked crosswise, thereby preventingthe lower portion of an earth wall constructed using the blocks frombeing damaged by shearing force applied due to load of the blocks. Theblocks have external force absorption grooves having a shape effectivelyabsorbing the horizontal displacement of the blocks when the ground isunevenly settled, thereby preventing the breakage of horn-shapedportions and central portions of the blocks by shearing force. Further,the connection between upper and lower blocks and between blocks andreinforcing members is improved, thus preventing the movement and theprotrusion of the blocks and minimizing the generation of defects of theearth wall after construction.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of a blockfor constructing an earth wall in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the rear surface of the blockin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the block in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the unifiedstate of the blocks of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in a constructing state;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in the constructing state;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in a constructed state;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in a state in which vegetation of herbaceousplants is grown;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in a state in which vegetation of woody plants isperformed;

FIG. 12 illustrates sectional and partial enlarged views of the earthwall in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating the earth wall in accordance withthe present invention in a state in which the earth wall is deformed dueto uneven settlement;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an earth wall under constructionillustrating another construction method of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the earth wall constructed by theconstruction method of FIG. 14 in a state in which vegetation is grown;

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall under constructionin accordance with the present invention, illustrating a state in whichthe earth wall is constructed using geogrid reinforcing members;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall under constructionin accordance with the present invention, illustrating a state in whichthe earth wall is constructed using reinforcing strips having a smallwidth;

FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 are front views illustrating various staircasetreatments performed on the upper inclined plane of the earth wall ofthe present invention;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a rectilinear earth wall constructed usingblocks in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are plan views of curved earth walls constructed usingblocks in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a river earth wall constructed usingblocks in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a block in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the block of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 27, illustrating astate in which a soil filling portion is closed;

FIG. 30 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall illustrating a statein which the earth wall is constructed using reinforcing strips;

FIG. 31 is a front perspective view of the earth wall of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall illustrating a statein which the earth wall is constructed using geogrid reinforcingmembers;

FIGS. 33 and 34 are perspective views of earth walls of the presentinvention illustrating vegetation states in which herbaceous plants areplanted in the earth walls;

FIGS. 35 and 36 are perspective views of earth walls of the presentinvention illustrating vegetation states in which woody plants areplanted in the earth walls;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of an earth wall of the present inventionin a state in which fences are continuously installed on the uppersurface of the earth wall;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an earth wall of the present inventionin a state in which skylight windows are continuously installed on theupper portion of the earth wall;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of an earth wall, constructed in a regionhaving heavy vibration applied thereon, in a state in which bufferingpads are installed between upper and lower blocks;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a block in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a plan view of the block of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the blocksof FIG. 40 are installed;

FIG. 44 is a front view illustrating a state in which the blocks of FIG.40 are stacked;

FIG. 45 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the blocks ofFIG. 40 are stacked;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view, corresponding to FIG. 43, illustratinganother connection between the blocks and the reinforcing fabric strips;

FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an earthwall is constructed using geogrid reinforcing members;

FIG. 48 is a front perspective view of an earth wall on which vegetationis grown;

FIG. 49 is a plan view of a curved earth wall constructed using theblocks of FIG. 40;

FIG. 50 is a plan view of a block in accordance with an embodimentmodified from the embodiment of FIG. 40;

FIG. 51 illustrating plan views sequentially showing the change of therear engaged state of the upper block of the stacked blocks of FIG. 50;and

FIG. 52 is a front view of the earth wall constructed using the blocksof FIG. 40 or 50 in a state in which the earth wall is deformed by theuneven settlement of the ground.

BEST MODE

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the annexed drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 are front and rear perspective, plan, and sectional viewsof a block for constructing an earth wall in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. The block of the present inventioncomprises a front surface 10 forming the surface of the earth wall and arear surface 20 contacting a reinforced earth; left and right sidesurfaces 30 and 30′ respectively provided with uneven portions 32 and32′ for connecting the block to neighboring blocks; an upper surface 40provided with reinforcing member insertion grooves 44, into whichreinforcing members or anchors for connecting the reinforcing membersare inserted; a lower surface 50 corresponding to the upper surface 40;and connection pin insertion holes (h) formed through left and rightsides of the upper and lower surfaces 40 and 50 for receiving connectionpins (P) to connect the upper and lower blocks. A soil filling portion60 is formed through the upper and lower surfaces 40 and 50 of theblock, and recession planes 12 and 12′ for forwardly exposing the soilfilling portion 60 when the blocks are vertically stacked crosswise areformed at both sides of the front surface 10 of the block.

The soil filling portion 60 of the block of the present inventionincludes an upwardly inclined front surface 61, both vertical sidesurfaces 62 and 62′, and a vertical rear surface 63. Through holes 64and 64′ are formed through both sides of the block outside the soilfilling portion 60, thereby decreasing the weight of the block. Theconnection pin insertion holes (h) are formed at the central portion ofthe block in width so as to facilitate the connection between theblocks, which are vertically stacked crosswise, and have an extendedshape having a long radius in the lateral direction of the block.

External force absorption grooves 61 a and 63 a, the cross sections ofwhich have the shape of a right-angled triangle, are formed in bothsides of the soil filling portion 60. The external force absorptiongrooves 61 a and 63 a prevent shearing force, applied from the upperblock, from being concentrated on the central portions of the blocks,i.e., the crossing portion between the blocks when the blocks arevertically stacked crosswise to form the earth wall and then the groundunder the earth wall is unevenly settled.

Anchor insertion grooves 44′ are formed in the upper surfaces ofvertical ribs 66, formed between the soil filling portion 60 and thethrough holes 64 and 64′, in the lateral direction. When anchors 90 areinserted into the anchor insertion grooves 44′ prior to the constructionof the earth wall using the blocks, the anchors 90 are inserted betweenthe blocks and ends of the anchors 90 are exposed from the rear surfaceof the blocks so that the reinforcing members are latched onto theexposed ends of the anchors 90.

A lever insertion groove (not shown) is formed in the central portion ofthe rear surface 20 of the block. When a lever is inserted into thelever insertion groove and is then pressed, the upper block is elevatedso that the anchor can be inserted into a designated position of theblock or the anchor inserted into the position can be separated from theblock.

Recession planes 22 and 22′ are formed at both sides of the rear surface20 of the block so that the soil filling portion 60 is communicated withthe reinforced earth located in the rear of the block. The recessionplanes 22 and 22′ have shapes symmetrical with those of the recessionportion 12 and 12′ of the front surface 10. Accordingly, when the blockof the present invention is seen from above, the block has a boat shapethe stem and stern of which are narrowed in width.

Preferably, the front surface 10 of the block is at least partiallysplit so that at least a part of the front surface 10 has a natural rockpattern. Thereby, the earth wall constructed using the blocks expressesnatural feeling differing from a concrete wall.

Hereinafter, a process for constructing an earth wall using the aboveblocks will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating one example of the unifiedstate of the blocks of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, 2-3 ormore blocks of the present invention are vertically stacked and unifiedby the connection pins (P), thereby producing one block unit (U). Whenan earth wall is constructed, a plurality of the block units (U) arecarried and handled by equipment. The process for constructing the earthwall in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in detail in FIGS. 7 to 12.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, the process for constructing the earth wallcomprising vertically stacking at least two unit blocks and unifying theunit blocks using the connection pins (P) to produce block units (U);elevating the first unified block units (U), and first building theblock units (U) on a concrete base (C); spreading a reinforced earth 70in the rear of the first built block units (U), and placing reinforcingmembers 80 on the reinforced earth 70 such that the reinforcing members80 are connected to the first built block units (U) and hardening thereinforced earth 70; filling the soil filling portions 60 of the firstbuilt block units (U) with soil and planting herbaceous plants in thesoil (sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings); vertically stacking atleast two unit blocks and unifying the unit blocks using the connectionpins (P) to produce block units (U); stacking the second unified blockunits (U) on the first built block units (U) such that the stacked upperand lower block units (U) cross each other; spreading the reinforcedearth 70 in the rear of the second built block units (U), and placingthe reinforcing members 80 on the reinforced earth 70 such that thereinforcing members 80 are connected to the second built block units (U)and hardening the reinforced earth 70; and filling the soil fillingportions 60 of the second built block units (U) with soil and plantingherbaceous plants in the soil. According to the height of the earth wallto be constructed, from the stacking of at least two unit blocks and theunifying the unit blocks to the filling the soil filling portions 60 andplanting the herbaceous plants in the soil are repeated.

Preferably, the anchors 90 are inserted into positions of the blockunits at a designated height when the blocks are unified. However, theanchors 90 may be inserted into a space between the upper and lowerblock units when the earth wall is constructed.

Drainage filters 100 made of non-fabric are installed on the rearsurfaces of overlapped portions between the horizontally neighboringblock units (U), thereby preventing the reinforced earth 70 from beingexposed to the front surface of the earth wall and allowing only waterto be discharged to the front surface of the earth wall. As shown inFIG. 12, the drainage filters 100 are extended to the insides of thesoil filling portions 60 inside the block units (U), thereby causingonly rainwater to be discharged to the front surface of the earth walland effectively preventing the loss of the reinforced earth 70 when therainwater flows into the reinforced earth 70.

Preferably, the construction method of the present invention isperformed such that the height of the upper block units (U) is lowerthan the height of the lower block units (U). For example, as shown inFIG. 15, the number of the vertically stacked blocks of the first builtblock units (U) is five, the number of the vertically stacked blocks ofthe second built block units (U) is four, and the number of thevertically stacked blocks of the third built block units (U) is three.Otherwise, the number of the vertically stacked blocks of each of thefirst and second built block units (U) may be five, and the number ofthe vertically stacked blocks of each of the third and fourth builtblock units (U) may be four. By gradually decreasing the heights of theblock units (U) from the lowermost block units (U) to the uppermostblock units (U), it is possible to efficiently prevent middle portionsof the blocks at the lower portion of the earth wall from being damagedby shearing force applied when the upper and lower block units (U) crosseach other due to load applied to the blocks.

That is, since the number of the vertically stacked blocks of the blockunits (U) is increased from the upper portion to the lower portion ofthe earth wall, it is possible to prevent the breakage of the blocks dueto the shearing force generated by the load applied to the blocks.

Further, in order to prevent the breakage of the blocks due to theshearing force, the blocks have a shape to have tolerance to theshearing force. As described above, the external force absorptiongrooves 61 a and 63 a, the cross sections of which form a right-angledtriangle, are formed in both sides of the soil filling portion 60 formedin the upper surface 40 of each of the blocks. As shown in FIG. 13, whenthe block units are vertically stacked such that the upper and lowerblock units cross each other and the ground under the stacked blockunits is unevenly settled to apply shearing force to the stacked blockunits, the block units tilt to absorb the shearing force. Here, thecorners of the lower portions of the upper blocks enter the externalforce absorption grooves 61 a and 63 a of the soil filling portion 60 ofthe lower blocks. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the breakage of thecorners of the lower blocks. Further, since load applied from above isnot concentrated on the middle portions of the lower blocks, it ispossible to prevent the lower portions from being split into halves.

According to the construction method of the present invention, since theheights of the block units (U) are gradually decreased from the lowerpart of the earth wall to the upper part of the earth wall, the numberof the soil filling portions 60 exposed from crossing portions betweenthe upper and lower block units (U) to the outside are increased fromthe lower part of the earth wall to the upper part of the earth wall,thereby increasing the density of vegetation. Accordingly, when theearth wall is constructed on the inside of a road, the constructed earthwall is seen to be as a green zone provided with plants withoutobstructing vehicle traffic until the earth wall has a designated upperlimit height, thereby being well harmonized with surroundingenvironment.

When an earth wall is constructed using the blocks of the presentinvention by the construction method of the present invention, as shownin FIG. 12, the soil filling portions 60 are longitudinally (or deeply)formed in the block units (U) so that herbaceous plants can vigorouslyroot in soil filling the soil filling portions 60, and the exposedregions of the soil filling portions 60 are minimized so that theherbaceous plants rooting in soil filling the soil filling portions 60does not wither even in the dry season. Since the soil filling the soilfilling portions 60 is connected to the reinforced earth 70, the supplyof water to the herbaceous plants and the drainage of excessivelysupplied rainwater are efficiently performed.

FIG. 14 illustrates the constructing state of an earth wall inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Thestructure of the earth wall of this embodiment is the same as that ofthe earlier embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 except that the blockunits (U) are vertically stacked crosswise under the condition that thenumber of the vertically stacked blocks of each of the block units (U)is three.

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall under constructionin accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the earth wall is constructed using reticulate geogridreinforcing members 80. Here, anchors 90 having a rod shape are insertedinto the anchor insertion grooves 44′ under the condition that frontends of the geogrid reinforcing members 80 are placed on the block units(U), and then new block units (U) are vertically stacked on the blockunits (U), thereby simply completing the connection between thereinforcing members 80 and the block units (U).

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of an earth wall under constructionin accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the earth wall is constructed by connecting reinforcingstrips 80 having a relatively narrow width (approximately 40-50 mm) tothe block units (U) without using separate anchors. Here, thereinforcing strips 80 are latched onto the upper surfaces of the blockunits (U) through the reinforcing member insertion grooves 44 and theanchor insertion groves 44′, both ends of the reinforcing strips 80 areextended to the rears of the block unit (U) so that both ends of thereinforcing strips 80 are longitudinally spread on the reinforced earth70, and then new block units (U) are vertically stacked on the blockunits (U).

FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 illustrate various staircase treatments performedon the upper inclined plane of the earth wall of the present invention.The earth wall of the present invention, which is constructed using theblock units (U) obtained by unifying a plurality of small-sized blocks,shortens a construction period. Further, the inclined plane of the upperend of the earth wall may have a staircase shape with a gentle gradientcorresponding to the configuration of the ground at a construction site.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a rectilinear earth wall constructed usingblocks in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 22 is a plan viewof an externally curved earth wall constructed using blocks inaccordance with the present invention, and FIG. 23 is a plan view of aninternally curved earth wall constructed using blocks in accordance withthe present invention. Since the connection pin insertion holes (h)having a long shape in the lateral direction, which are formed throughleft and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the blocks,allow the neighboring blocks to be rectilinearly or curvedlyinterconnected by the connection pins, an earth wall having a curvedshape as well as a rectilinear shape corresponding to the configurationof the ground at a construction site can be constructed using the blocksof the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a river earth wall constructed using blocks inaccordance with the present invention. The river earth wall is obtainedby selectively filling the soil filling portions 60 with soil. Here,since one portion of the river earth wall, which is located above thesurface of the water, serves as an area in which vegetation of plants isgrown, and the other portion of the river earth wall, which is locatedin the water, serves as a habitat of various fishes and aquatic plants,the river earth wall makes environment for maintaining a well riverecosystem.

In FIG. 24, reference numeral 70′ represents aggregate such as gravel.

The present invention is not limited to the above description anddrawings. The block of the present invention may be used to construct afence having a small height rather than an earth wall. In this case,vegetation sacks are inserted into the soil filling portions of theblocks so that plants are grown on both surfaces of the fence.

FIGS. 25 to 28 illustrate a block for constructing an earth wall inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The blockof this embodiment is similar to that of the earlier embodiment as shownin FIG. 1. However, the block of this embodiment differs from that ofthe earlier embodiment in terms of the shape of the front surface 10,the shapes of the recession planes 12 and 12′ formed at both sides ofthe front surface 10, and the locations of the anchor insertion grooves44′ and the connection pin insertion holes (h) formed in the uppersurface 40.

Hereinafter, the structure of the block of this embodiment will bedescribed. Here, the description of some parts the block of thisembodiment, which are substantially the same as those of the block ofthe first embodiment, will be omitted.

First, the front surface 10 of the block of this embodiment has aprotruded rectangular shape, and the protruded front surface 10 has anatural rock texture by split processing. The recession planes 12 and12′ are curved, and long grooves 12 a and 12 a′ are formed in therecession planes 12 and 12′ in the lengthwise direction.

The anchor insertion grooves 44′ and the connection pin insertion holes(h) formed in the upper surface 40 are partially overlapped so that theconnection pins (P) vertically inserted into the connection pininsertion holes (h) directly support the anchors 90 inserted into theanchor insertion grooves 44 when an earth wall is constructed using theblocks, thereby more firmly connecting the reinforcing members to theblocks.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 27, and illustrates astate in which the lower part of the soil filling portion 60 is closed.The lower part of the soil filling portion 60 is closed by a bottomsurface 65 and a drainage hole 65 a is formed through the bottom surface65 so that the soils filling the soil filling portions 60 of the upperand lower block units are independently isolated from each other,thereby preventing the loss of the soil, and allowing the blocks to havedifferent kinds of plants grown thereon, or allowing some blocks to haveplants grown thereon and the residual blocks to have non of plants grownthereon.

FIGS. 30 and 31 are rear and front perspective views of a state of anearth wall, which is under construction using the blocks, as shown inFIG. 25, and reinforcing strips. The construction method of this earthwall is similar to that of the earth wall of the first embodiment.However, in this case, the spreading and hardening of the reinforcedearth 70 may be performed under the condition that the drainage filters100 are installed in the lengthwise direction on the rear surfaces ofthe overlapping portions between the neighboring blocks, or the drainagefilter 100 is extended and installed in the transverse directionthroughout the rear surfaces of the blocks.

FIG. 32 is a rear perspective view of a state of an earth wall, which isunder construction using the above blocks and geogrid reinforcingmembers. The construction method of this earth wall is similar to theconstruction method as shown in FIG. 16. However, in the same manner asthe construction method as shown in FIG. 30, the drainage filter 100 isextended and installed in the transverse direction throughout the rearsurfaces of the blocks.

FIGS. 33 and 34 are perspective views of earth walls of the presentinvention illustrating vegetation states in which herbaceous plants areplanted in the earth walls, and FIGS. 35 and 36 are perspective views ofearth walls of the present invention illustrating vegetation states inwhich woody plants are planted in the earth walls. As the occasion of aconstruction site demands, plants may be planted or not be planted inthe earth wall of the present invention. When the front surface of theearth wall has a vegetation state harmonizing with environment, thepattern of vegetation may have various shapes, such as informationalcharacters and logos, instead of the shape as shown in the drawings, andthus the earth wall of the present invention has informational effectsas well as landscape architectural effects.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of an earth wall of the present inventionin a state in which fences are continuously installed on the uppersurface of the earth wall. When the fences for securing safety orpreventing crime are installed on the upper surface of the earth wall,rods (F) of the fences are conventionally fixed onto a concrete groundor the upper surface of the earth wall. However, in the presentinvention, the rods (F) are inserted into the through holes 64 and 64′formed through both sides of the upper surfaces of the blocks and fixedinto the through holes 64 and 64′ using cement mortar or aconstructional epoxy adhesive agent, and wire-screens (M) are fixedbetween the neighboring rods (F), thereby simply installing the fenceson the earth wall.

In FIG. 37, cap rocks (R) are attached to the upper surface of the earthwall using cement mortar or a constructional epoxy adhesive agent,through holes are formed through the cap rocks (R) at positionscorresponding to the through holes 64 and 64′ of the blocks of the earthwall, and the rods (F) are inserted into the through holes of the caprocks (R).

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of an earth wall of the present inventionin a state in which skylight windows (T) are continuously installed onthe upper portion of the earth wall. The skylight windows (T) made of atransparent material, such as polycarbonate, for admitting light orproviding a view are inserted into designated portions of the upperportion of the earth wall, and are fixed thereto using anchor bolts,thereby allowing persons at the inside or outside of the earth wall totake in light or enjoy the view.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of an earth wall, constructed in a regionsubject to heavy vibration, such as a region adjacent to a road or arailroad, in a state in which buffering pads (V) are installed betweenupper and lower block units. The buffering pads (V) prevent vibrationfrom being transmitted between the upper and lower block units, therebyallowing the constructed earth wall to have excellentvibration-resistance and deformation-resistance.

FIGS. 40 to 42 illustrate a block for constructing an earth wall inaccordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.43 to 45 are respectively perspective, front, and sectional views of theconstructing state of the earth wall using the blocks of thisembodiment. The block of this embodiment is similar to that of theearlier embodiment as shown in FIG. 25. However, the block of thisembodiment differs from that of the earlier embodiment in terms of theshapes and positions of the connection pin insertion holes (h) and theanchor insertion grooves 44′ formed in the upper surface 40, and theshapes and the positions of the external force absorption grooves 61 a,63 a, and 64 a.

Specifically, the anchor insertion grooves 44′ and the connection pininsertion holes (h) formed in the upper surface 40 are partiallyoverlapped. Each of the connection pin insertion holes (h) is structuredsuch that the diameter of the connection pin insertion hole (h) isdecreased from the upper portion thereof to the lower portion thereof.That is, as shown in FIG. 42, the diameter of the upper half of theconnection pin insertion hole (h) is expanded to be larger than thewidth of the anchor insertion groove 44′, and the diameter of the lowerhalf of the connection pin insertion hole (h) is contracted. Theconnection pin insertion hole (h) is a long hole in the lateraldirection.

Accordingly, when an earth wall is constructed using the blocks as shownin FIG. 45, the connection pins (P) vertically inserted into the upperblock units (U2) directly support anchors (not shown) inserted into theanchor insertion grooves 44′ of the lower block units (U1) or thereinforcing strips 80, and the upper block units (U2) recede from thelower block units (U1) so that the earth wall has a designated gradient.The recession is accomplished by causing the lower ends of theconnection pins protruded from the lower contracted portions (h2) of theconnection pin insertion holes (h) of the upper block-units (U2) tocontact the upper expanded portion (h1) of the connection pin insertionholes (h) of the lower block units (U1).

A tapered portion (h3) having an inclined plane is formed between theupper expanded portion (h1) and the lower contracted portion (h2) of theconnection pin insertion hole (h). The tapered portions (h3) of theconnection pin insertion holes (h) facilitate the insertion of theconnection pins (P) into the connection pin insertion holes (h), catchthe head portions of the connection pins (P) to prevent the connectionpins (P) from being separated from the connection pin insertion holes(h), decrease the transverse movement of the upper and lower block unitsto prevent the earth wall from being pushed or moved forwards, andincrease the lateral movement of the upper and lower block units to havehigh resistance to uneven settlement.

In this embodiment, the external force absorption grooves 61 a and 63 aformed at both sides of the upper surface 40 of the block are extendedand connected, and the external force absorption grooves 64a having atriangular shape are additionally formed at front regions of left andright corners of the upper surface 40 of the block, i.e., from the upperends of both recession planes 12 and 12′ to the lower ends of therecession planes 12 and 12′.

When the upper and lower block units are stacked so that a rectilinearearth wall is constructed using the blocks of this embodiment, thevertical ribs 66 formed at both sides of the lower block units as shownin FIG. 44 contact the vertical ribs 66 formed at both sides of theupper block units so that the load is transmitted from the upper blockunits to the lower block units, and the remaining parts of the lowerblock units are substantially separated from the remaining parts of theupper block units by the external force absorption grooves 61 a, 63 a,and 64 a.

In the block of this embodiment, the reason for the extension of theexternal force absorption grooves 61 a and 63 a and the addition of theexternal force absorption grooves 64 a at the corners of the block is toprevent the displacement of the earth wall constructed using the blocksand improve the resistance of the earth wall to uneven settlement, andits detailed description will be given later.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view illustrating another connection betweenthe blocks and the reinforcing strips. The reinforcing strips 80 may beindividually inserted into the anchor insertion grooves 44′ formed atboth sides of the block, or the reinforcing strips 80 may besimultaneously inserted into the anchor insertion grooves 44′ formed atboth sides of the block as shown in FIG. 46.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an earthwall is constructed using geogrid reinforcing members. The blocks aresupported by the geogrid reinforcing members 80 by latching the frontends of the geogrid reinforcing members 80 onto the connection pins (notshown) inserted between the upper and lower block units (U1 and U2).

FIG. 48 is a front perspective view of the earth wall constructed usingthe above blocks, on which vegetation is grown. A vegetation earth wallis obtained by planting herbaceous and woody plants in the earth wallconstructed using the blocks as shown in FIG. 40.

FIG. 49 is a plan view of a curved earth wall constructed using theblocks of FIG. 40. As described above, when the rectilinear earth wallis constructed using the blocks of this embodiment, the vertical ribs 66formed at both sides of the lower block units contact the vertical ribs66 formed at both sides of the upper block units as shown in FIG. 44,and the remaining parts of the lower block units are substantiallyseparated from the remaining parts of the upper block units by the soilfilling portions 60 and the external force absorption grooves 61 a, 63a, and 64 a. When the curved earth wall as shown in FIG. 49 isconstructed using the blocks of FIG. 40, although the lower block units(U1) represented by a dotted line and the upper block units (U2) are notparallel with each other but meet at a designated angle, the verticalribs 66 formed at both sides of the lower block units contact thevertical ribs 66 formed at both sides of the upper block units, and theremaining parts of the lower block units are not interfered with theremaining parts of the upper block units by the extension of theexternal force absorption grooves 61 a and 63 a and the addition of theexternal force absorption grooves 64 a.

Accordingly, when the uneven settlement of the ground is generated asshown in FIG. 52 under the condition that the rectilinear or curvedearth wall is constructed, horn-shaped portions of the lower surfaces ofthe upper block units (U2) are received by the external force absorptiongrooves 61 a and 63 a of the lower block units (U1), the external forceabsorption grooves 64 a formed in the horn-shaped portions at both sidesof the upper surface of the lower block units (U1) do not directlycontact the lower surfaces of the lower block units (U2) to prevent thebreakage of the above portions or the concentration of shearing force onthe middle portions of the lower block units (U1), thereby allowing theblocks to absorb the uneven settlement and to withstand the unevensettlement without the breakage of the blocks, i.e., the breakage of theearth wall.

FIG. 50 is a plan view of a block in accordance with an embodimentmodified from the embodiment of FIG. 40, and FIG. 51 illustrates planviews showing the stacked states of the blocks of FIG. 50. The block ofthis modified embodiment is similar to that of the earlier embodiment asshown in FIG. 40. However, the block of this modified embodiment differsfrom that of the earlier embodiment in that the contracted portions (h2)of the connection pin insertion holes (h) are not horizontally formed,but are long holes having a slantingly rectilinear cross-section. Whenthe shapes of the connection pin insertion holes (h) of this modifiedembodiment are applied, as shown in FIG. 51, the range of the transversemovement of the connection pins (P) between the upper and lower blockunits (U1 and U2) is increased, thereby increasing the gradient of anearth wall constructed using the above blocks. Further, the range of thelateral movement of the connection pins (P) is not lower than that ofthe block of the earlier embodiment of FIG. 40.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides alarge-sized block having a large width, which rapidly constructs aplantable reinforced earth wall using equipment to eliminate worker'sphysical burden, a plantable reinforced earth wall constructed using theblocks, and a method for constructing the earth wall using the blocks.When the blocks are vertically stacked crosswise through soil fillingportions formed in the blocks and recession planes formed at both sidesof the front surfaces of the blocks, the soil filling portions areexposed to the front surface of the earth wall. In the case that plantsare grown in soil filling the exposed soil filling portions, the frontsurface of the vertically constructed earth wall is afforested. Asoccasion demands, the soil filling portions are not filled with soil. Inthe construction method of the present invention, block units obtainedby vertically stacking a plurality of blocks are vertically stackedcrosswise, thereby preventing the lower portion of an earth wallconstructed using the blocks from being damaged by shearing forceapplied due to load of the blocks. The blocks have external forceabsorption grooves having a shape effectively absorbing the horizontaldisplacement of the blocks when the ground is unevenly settled, therebypreventing the breakage of horn-shaped portions and central portions ofthe blocks by shearing force. Further, the connection between upper andlower blocks and between blocks and reinforcing members is improved,thus preventing the movement and the protrusion of the blocks andminimizing the generation of defects of the earth wall afterconstruction.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A block for constructing a plantable reinforced earth wallcomprising: a front surface 10 forming the surface of the earth wall,and a rear surface 20 contacting a reinforced earth; left and right sidesurfaces 30 and 30′ respectively provided with uneven portions 32 and32′ for connecting the block to neighboring blocks; an upper surface 40provided with reinforcing member insertion grooves 44, into whichreinforcing members or anchors for connecting the reinforcing membersare inserted; a lower surface 50 corresponding to the upper surface 40;and connection pin insertion holes (h) formed through left and rightsides of the upper and lower surfaces for receiving connection pins (P)to connect the upper and lower blocks, wherein a soil filling portion 60is formed through the upper 40 and lower 50 surfaces of the block, andrecession planes 12 and 12′ for forwardly exposing the soil fillingportion 60 when the blocks 10 are vertically stacked crosswise areformed at both sides of the front surface of the block.
 2. The block asset forth in claim 1, wherein the soil filling portion 60 includes anupwardly inclined front surface 61, both vertical side surfaces 62 and62′, and a vertical rear surface 63, and through holes 64 and 64′ areformed through both sides of the block outside the soil filling portion60.
 3. The block as set forth in claim 2, wherein external forceabsorption grooves 61 a and 63 a, the cross sections of which have theshape of a right-angled triangle, are formed in both sides of the soilfilling portion 60 for receiving corners of the upper block so as toprevent shearing force, applied from the upper block, from beingconcentrated on the central portion of the block, which is a crossingportion between the blocks when the blocks are vertically stackedcrosswise to form the earth wall and then the ground under the earthwall is unevenly settled.
 4. The block as set forth in claim 3, whereinthe external force absorption grooves 61 a and 63 a at both sides areconnected, and additional external force absorption grooves 64 a areformed at front regions of left and right corners of the upper surface.5. The block as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connection pininsertion holes (h) have an extended shape having a long radius in thelateral direction of the block.
 6. The block as set forth in claim 2,wherein anchor insertion grooves 44′ are formed in the lateral directionin the upper surface of vertical ribs 66 formed between the soil fillingportion 60 and the through holes 64 and 64′.
 7. The block as set forthin claim 1, wherein recession planes 22 and 22′ are formed at both sidesof the rear surface 20 so that the soil filling portion 60 iscommunicated with the reinforced earth located in the rear of the block.8. The block as set forth in claim 6, wherein the anchor insertiongrooves 44′ and the connection pin insertion holes (h) are partiallyoverlapped so that the connection pins (P) directly support the anchors90 or the reinforcing members
 80. 9. The block as set forth in claim 8,wherein each of the connection pin insertion grooves is structured suchthat the diameter of the upper portion of the connection pin insertionhole (h) is larger than the diameter of the lower portion of theconnection pin insertion hole, and a tapered portion (h3) is formedbetween the upper expanded portion (h1) and the lower contracted portion(h2) of the connection pin insertion hole.
 10. The block as set forth inclaim 9, wherein the lower contracted portion (h2) of each of theconnection pin insertion holes (h) is a long hole having a slantinglyrectilinear cross-section.
 11. A plantable reinforced earth wallconstructed by the blocks as set forth in any one of claims 1 to
 9. 12.A method for constructing a plantable reinforced earth wall comprising:vertically stacking at least two unit blocks and unifying the unitblocks connection pins to produce block units; building the firstunified block units on a concrete base; spreading a reinforced earth inthe rear of the first built block units, and placing reinforcing memberson the reinforced earth such that the reinforcing members are connectedto the first built block units and hardening the reinforced earth;filling soil filling portions of the first built block units with soiland planting herbaceous plants in the soil; vertically stacking at leasttwo unit blocks and unifying the unit blocks using connection pins toproduce block units; stacking the second unified block units on thefirst built block units such that the stacked upper and lower blockunits cross each other; spreading a reinforced earth in the rear of thesecond built block units, and placing reinforcing members on thereinforced earth such that the reinforcing members are connected to thesecond built block units and hardening the reinforced earth; and fillingsoil filling portions of the second built block units with soil andplanting herbaceous plants in the soil.
 13. The method as set forth inclaim 12, wherein the height of the upper block units is lower than theheight of the lower block units.